Monday, May 26, 2008

Road to OKC: Hokies punch their ticket

The Hokies are coming back to OKC. Virginia Tech has advanced to the Women's College World Series by beating Michigan 1-0 and 6-1 Sunday in Ann Arbor. The WCWS begins Thursday at Don E. Porter ASA Hall of Fame Stadium, the same site of Virginia Tech's 1-0 win over Team USA in March.

In the first game Sunday, Tech scored an unearned run in the first inning on a throwing error by Michigan catcher Roya St. Clair. Angela Tincher made the run hold up by striking out 15 Wolverines. In the decisive game, Tech scored four runs in the third inning off Michigan pitchers Nikki Nimitz and Jordan Taylor.

Taylor and the rest of the Wolverines lost their composure after they felt Taylor was being squeezed by the home plate umpire. She struggled to find the plate and walked in the first run of the game. Taylor and other members of the Michigan team were seen shouting at the umpire while others slammed their gloves to the ground after ball/strike calls did not go their way.

The Hokies, however, maintained their heads and coasted to a 6-1 win and a berth in the WCWS. The Hokies looked like the veteran team with a national title under their belts, not the Wolverines.

The Hokies will face Texas A&M in their first game at 3 p.m. EDT Thursday in OKC. Check this blog Tuesday for a preview of the WCWS. I plan on attending all Virginia Tech's games during the tournament and look forward to seeing a lot of Hokies in Oklahoma City this week.